FACT or FICTION?

Ulcers are caused by stress and spicy food

MYTH:

Dr Tom Micklewright from Push Doctor, an app which provides same-day video consultations, says: ‘Over 60 per cent of stomach ulcers are caused by an infection with helicobacter pylori, a common bacteria. After this, use of medications, such as steroid tablets or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, are the second largest cause. Despite the myth, spicy foods have not been shown to increase your risk of ulcers. As for stress, the jury is still out. Stress may increase your risk of ulcers a number of ways, but there is no consensus yet as to whether, on its own, it can actually cause an ulcer.’

Egg yolks are bad for your heart

MYTH:

Dr Micklewright says: ‘Moderate intake (up to one egg per day) has not been shown to have any effect on your risk of heart disease or stroke. Our understanding of the role of fats and cholesterol in our diet has changed in recent decades — we now know that while they are calorie-dense, only some fats are harmful to our health. But despite our evolving knowledge on the subject, this myth persists.’

Too much sugar can be as bad for you as smoking

TRUE:

Dr Dan Bunstone from Push Doctor says: ‘Despite making food taste nice, sugar is a considerable risk factor for health problems such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes and even some cancers. It’s readily available, cheap and addictive. For example, many 330ml cans of fizzy drinks contain over eight teaspoons of sugar and it’s often these “hidden” sugars in food and drink that give us the most problems.’

Reading in dim light or regularly using computers ruins your eyesight

MYTH:

Daniel Hardiman-McCartney FCOptom, Clinical Adviser at the College of Optometrists, says: ‘Reading in dim light may cause eye strain or give you a headache, but it won’t damage your eyesight. The same is true when using a computer. Using computers for long periods may cause dryness or strain to the eyes, but it won’t damage or harm your eyesight. For every 20 minutes that you’re looking at the screen, take a 20 second break and look at something 20ft away. If you’re reading on your phone or tablet, sit upright and hold it where you’d hold a book, not for example, five centimetres from your eyes.’

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day

MYTH:

Nutritionist and founder of Caroline Blackmore Nutrition, Caroline Blackmore says: ‘Certainly, there is evidence to show that eating breakfast may help with weight control in some individuals, however there’s no conclusive evidence to show that it’s the most important meal of the day. Scientists offer conflicting evidence to show that it may or may not help with blood sugar regulation, concentration, weight loss, metabolism regulation and our circadian rhythm. Instead, what is important, is to treat every meal as an opportunity to have lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, complex carbohydrates and good sources of protein.’

Stress is responsible for high blood pressure

MYTH:

Dr Bunstone says: ‘Stress is not responsible for high blood pressure. Stress may cause a temporary rise in blood pressure as your body is in the so-called “fight or flight” reaction caused by adrenaline, but this is short-lived and will quickly return to normal. High blood pressure is caused by being overweight, having a poor diet that’s high in fat and salt, by smoking, by drinking too much and by lack of exercise.’

Vitamin C helps prevent colds

MYTH:

Dr Micklewright says: ‘Unfortunately, vitamin C supplements won’t stop you from getting a cold. It’s possible vitamin C can reduce the length of a cold, but only by about half a day.’

If you’re tired, rest is always best

MYTH:

Personal trainer, Alastair Ratcliffe says: ‘Although you may feel lethargic and de-motivated, exercise is in fact the single best thing you can do to lift mood and energy levels. Proven to boost cognitive function and memory, exercise makes us more alert, productive and energetic. So the next time you hit an afternoon slump, don’t think: I don’t have the energy to exercise. Instead think: I’m going to use exercise to get energised.’

Edited by Stephanie May